World

Darfur yellow fever worst in decades: WHO

AN outbreak of mosquito-borne yellow fever which has killed at least 165 people in Sudan's Darfur region is Africa's worst in decades, the World Health Organisation says.

This outbreak could be classed as the largest since at least 1990, WHO country representative Anshu Banerjee told AFP on Thursday.

Since September 2, there have been 732 suspected yellow fever cases in Darfur, including 165 deaths, said a separate report from WHO and Sudan's health ministry.

Outbreaks in other countries have been smaller because routine vaccination programs have started to include yellow fever, whereas Darfur never had vaccinations for the virus until last month, Banerjee said.

That left the population with no immunity.

"Anyone would be at risk," he said.

"The outbreak is very significant and the spread of the disease shows no signs of stopping," UN humanitarian coordinator Ali al-Za'tari said.

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